Syrup delivery system

Abstract

A syrup delivery system including a plurality of open-top, sturdy plastic containers and syrup bags. Each bag is positionable in a separate container with the bag spigot thereof extending accessible out through a container end opening. The open gridwork bottom of the container slopes to the container end opening so that the syrup in the bag can drain more completely out through the spigot with the container supported on a flat level surface. The containers have top locking posts, bottom stacking feet, and undulating-like sides. With the containers aligned so that their end openings face the same direction, the containers can be stacked one on top of the other with the posts of the bottom container engaging up into the feet of the top container. To unstack, the top container is tilted forward, the posts and feet thereby disengage, and the tilted top container easily slid down the sloping front lip of the lower container. To nest the containers, the top container is rotated 180 degress about a vertical axis and the containers, due to their undulating sides, nest together in a relatively compact two-to-one nesting ratio. In the nested position the posts of the bottom container extend up into openings in horizontal support surfaces positioned mid-way up the sides of the top container.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A syrup delivery system, comprising; a first case having a pair of opposing end walls, a pair of opposing side walls, a floor structure attached to and disposed generally within said end and side walls, and an aperture in one of said end walls, said first case being positionable in a dispensing position;   a first syrup bag containing syrup and having a spigot, said first syrup bag being positionable on said floor structure within said first case for syrup dispensing when said first case is in the dispensing position;   a second case having a pair of opposing end walls, a pair of opposing side walls, a floor structure attached to and disposed generally within said second case end and side walls, and an aperture in one of said second case end walls, said second case being positionable in a dispensing position, and said second case being stackable in a stacked position on and supported by said first case;   a second syrup bag containing syrup and having a spigot, said second syrup bag being positionable on said floor structure within said second case for syrup dispensing when said second case is in the dispensing position;   wherein said floor structure of each said case slopes generally downward in the direction of each respective said end wall including said aperture; and   wherein when said first and second syrup bags are disposed in said first and second cases, respectively, said spigots thereof are accessible from outside of each said case through each said aperture and each said syrup bag slopes down to each said spigot thereof.   
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1 wherein each said pair of end walls, pair of side walls and floor structure of each said case in the dispensing position define an uncovered interior cavity for receiving therein said first and second syrup bags, respectively. 
     
     
       3. The system of claim 1 wherein, when said first and second cases have said first and second syrup bags removed therefrom, said cases are further positionable in a nesting position such that said second case fits down into said first case. 
     
     
       4. The system of claim 3 wherein said nesting position is achieved when one said case is rotated relative to the other said case 180 degrees about a vertical axis thereof with respect to the stacked dispensing position. 
     
     
       5. The system of claim 3 wherein said pair of end walls and said pair of side walls of each said case define a top perimeter along an upper surface thereof and a bottom perimeter along the lower surface thereof, said top perimeter being greater than said bottom perimeter such that one said case is nestable within the other said case. 
     
     
       6. The system of claim 3 wherein said pair of side walls and said pair of end walls of said first and second cases, respectively, are angled inwardly from an upper surface thereof to said floor structure to allow for the nesting of said second case into said first case. 
     
     
       7. The system of claim 6 wherein angling of said side and end walls allows for two to one nesting of said first and second cases. 
     
     
       8. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said side and end walls of said first and second cases is formed to define a solid surface. 
     
     
       9. The system of claim 1 wherein said floor structures of said first and second cases have an open gridwork construction. 
     
     
       10. The system of claim 1 wherein said sloping floor structure, said pair of end walls, and said pair of side walls of said first and second cases, respectively, are integrally formed of plastic. 
     
     
       11. The system of claim 1 wherein said first and second cases include locking means for preventing slipping between said first and second cases when in the stacked position. 
     
     
       12. The system of claim 11 wherein each said case includes a top surface and a bottom surface, and said locking means includes a plurality of protuberances formed on said top surface of each said case and a plurality of recesses formed on said bottom surface of each said case. 
     
     
       13. The system of claim 12 wherein said plurality of protuberances interlock with said plurality of recesses when one said case is stacked on top of the other said case such that a locked position is thereby formed. 
     
     
       14. The system of claim 11 wherein said locking means includes locking posts on an upper surface of said first case and locking feet on a lower surface of said second case, said locking feet being configured so that corresponding said locking posts are received thereinto when said second case is stacked above said first case. 
     
     
       15. The system of claim 14 wherein said locking posts project upwards from an upper surface of said side walls. 
     
     
       16. The system of claim 15 wherein each said locking foot includes a downwardly-opening structure formed therein such that a locked condition is obtained when said locking posts are positioned in said locking feet. 
     
     
       17. The system of claim 16 wherein at least some of said locking posts each define upright trapezoids with rounded upper corners or upright semi-circles. 
     
     
       18. The system of claim 16 wherein said locking feet include bracing structures extending between an upper portion of said downwardly-opening structure and said side wall. 
     
     
       19. The system of claim 18 wherein said bracing structures comprise triangular members projecting perpendicularly out from said side walls and on top of said downwardly-opening structures. 
     
     
       20. The system of claim 1 wherein said syrup bags are separable and removable from their respective said cases, and said spigots are extendable through their respective said end wall apertures and to the exterior of their respective said cases with said syrup bags in said cases. 
     
     
       21. The system of claim 1 wherein said second case is positionable in a stacked dispensing position above said first case. 
     
     
       22. The system of claim 1 wherein each said floor structure is disposed generally perpendicular to each said end wall including said aperture. 
     
     
       23. The system of claim 22 wherein each said floor structure includes a front portion adjacent said end wall including said aperture, a rear portion, and two side portions, said front portion being generally flat, said rear portion defining a generally trapezoidal area funneling down towards said front portion, and said side portions sloping downwards from said adjacent side walls to said front and rear portions. 
     
     
       24. The system of claim 1 wherein each said aperture in said end wall includes a generally rectangular opening and an upwardly-disposed semi-circular opening communicating with a lower portion of said rectangular opening. 
     
     
       25. The system of claim 1 wherein said pair of end walls of each said case include a handle formation therein to facilitate lifting and carrying of each said case. 
     
     
       26. The system of claim 1 wherein an upper surface of said pair of end walls and said pair of side walls of each said case defines a top rim thereof. 
     
     
       27. The system of claim 26 wherein a front edge of said top rim slopes downwardly to facilitate the unstacking of said cases. 
     
     
       28. The system of claim 1 wherein said syrup comprises fountain service beverage syrup. 
     
     
       29. A syrup delivery system, comprising: a first syrup bag containing syrup and having a spout;   a second syrup bag containing syrup and having a spout;   a first syrup bag box for supporting therein said first bag;   a second syrup bag box for supporting therein said second bag;   wherein said first box has a plurality of connecting side walls, a bottom floor which together with said side walls define at least in part a first box interior, and a top through which said first bag passes for insertion into and removal from said first box interior, one of said side walls having a spout through-opening at a lower portion thereof, said floor being sloped down towards said spout through-opening such that, with said first bag supported on said floor and said first bag spout extending operatively out of said spout through-opening for dispensing, drainage of syrup from said first bag out through said first bag spout is promoted;   wherein said second box has a plurality of connected side walls, a bottom floor which together with said second box side walls define at least in part a second box interior, and a top through which said second bag passes for insertion into and removal from said second box interior, one of said second box side walls having a spout through-opening at a lower portion thereof, said second box floor being sloped down towards said second box spout through-opening such that, with said second bag supported on said second box floor and said second bag spout extending operatively out of said second box spout through-opening for dispensing, drainage of syrup from said second bag out through said second bag spout is promoted;   wherein said first box with said first bag in a dispensing position in said first box interior is stackable on top of said second box with said second bag in a dispensing position in said second box interior; and   wherein said side walls of said first and second boxes are configured such that said first box is nestable a distance down into said second box.   
     
     
       30. The delivery system of claim 29 wherein said bottom floors of said first and second cases are formed with open gridwork constructions. 
     
     
       31. The delivery system of claim 29 wherein, when said first bag box is stacked on top of said second bag box, said first box spout through-opening and said second box spout through-opening are aligned one above the other. 
     
     
       32. The delivery system of claim 31 wherein, when said first bag box is nested into said second bag box, said first box is positioned such that said first box spout through-opening is rotated by 180 degrees about a vertical axis thereof with respect to said second box spout through-opening. 
     
     
       33. The delivery system of claim 29 wherein said first bag box and said second bag box are in a locked position when said first bag box is stacked on top of said second bag box. 
     
     
       34. The delivery system of claim 33 wherein the locked position of said first bag box on top of said second bag box prevents the sliding of said first and second bag boxes relative to one another. 
     
     
       35. The delivery system of claim 33 wherein an upper surface of said second bag box includes a plurality of locking posts and a lower surface of said first bag box includes a plurality of locking slots such that when said first bag box is stacked on top of said second bag box each of said locking posts is received in a corresponding said locking slot to thereby obtain the locked position. 
     
     
       36. The delivery system of claim 35 wherein said first bag box is tipped in the direction of said first box spout through-opening in order to release said locking posts from said corresponding locking slots and thereby remove said first box from said locked position on top of said second box. 
     
     
       37. The delivery system of claim 35 wherein said locking posts are disposed on a top rim of said second bag box along at least two of said side walls and corresponding said locking slots are disposed adjacent an outer surface of said at least two side walls. 
     
     
       38. The delivery system of claim 29 further comprising hosing operatively connected to said first bag spout and through which syrup from said first syrup bag can drain. 
     
     
       39. The delivery system of claim 38 wherein said hosing is connected in series to said second bag spout. 
     
     
       40. The system of claim 29 wherein said syrup comprises fountain service beverage syrup. 
     
     
       41. A syrup delivery system, comprising: a first case having a pair of opposing end walls, a pair of opposing side walls, a floor structure attached to and disposed generally within said end and side walls, and an aperture in one of said end walls, said first case being positionable in a dispensing position;   a first syrup bag containing syrup and having a spigot, said first syrup bag being positionable on said floor structure within said first case for syrup dispensing when said first case is in the dispensing position;   a second case having a pair of opposing end walls, a pair of opposing side walls, a floor structure attached to and disposed generally within said second case end and side walls, and an aperture in one of said second case end walls, said second case positionable in a dispensing position, and said second case being stackable in a stacked position on and supported by said first case;   a second syrup bag containing syrup and having a spigot, said second syrup bag being positionable on said floor structure within said second case for syrup dispensing when said second case is in the dispensing position;   wherein said floor structures of each said case slope generally downward in the direction of each respective said end wall which includes said apertures;   wherein when said first and second syrup bags are disposed in said first and second cases, respectively, said spigots thereof are accessible from outside of each said case through each said aperture and each said syrup bag slopes down to each said spigot thereof;   wherein said first case has a first case top surface and said second case has a second case bottom surface;   a projection formed on one of said first case top surface or said second case bottom surface; and   a recess formed on the other of said first case top surface or said second case bottom surface, said recess corresponding to said projection and being configured and constructed to mate with said projection when said second case is in the stacked position supported on said first case and to thereby to block free sliding of said first case bottom surface on and along said second case top surface.   
     
     
       42. The system of claim 41 wherein said recess includes a locking foot on said second case bottom surface, said locking foot including a downwardly-opening structure and bracing structure extending between an upper portion of said downwardly-opening structure and one of said second case side walls. 
     
     
       43. The system of claim 42 wherein said projection comprises a locking post on said first case top surface. 
     
     
       44. The system of claim 41 wherein said second case bottom surface comprises a bottom surface of at least one of said second case side walls. 
     
     
       45. The system of claim 41 wherein said floor structures of both said first and second cases have a plurality of drainage through-openings. 
     
     
       46. The system of claim 41 wherein said projection is integrally formed on said first case top surface. 
     
     
       47. The system of claim 41 wherein said recess is integrally formed on said second case bottom surface. 
     
     
       48. The system of claim 41 wherein said first case top surface comprises a top surface of one said first case side walls. 
     
     
       49. The system of claim 41 wherein each said sloping floor structure slopes down towards a longitudinal center line extending between said end walls. 
     
     
       50. The system of claim 41 wherein each said pair of end walls, pair of side walls and floor structure of each said case when in the dispensing position defines an uncovered interior cavity for receiving therein said first and second syrup bags, respectively. 
     
     
       51. The system of claim 41 wherein, when said first and second cases have said first and second syrup bags removed therefrom, said cases are further positionable in a relative nesting position wherein said second case is fitted down into said first case. 
     
     
       52. The system of claim 51 wherein the nesting position is achieved when one said case is rotated relative to the other said case 180 degrees about a vertical axis thereof with respect to the stacked dispensing position. 
     
     
       53. The system of claim 51 wherein said pair of end walls and said pair of side walls of each said case define a top perimeter along an upper surface thereof and a bottom perimeter along a lower surface thereof, said top perimeter being greater than said bottom perimeter such that one said case is nestable within the other said case. 
     
     
       54. The system of claim 51 wherein said pair of side walls and said pair of end walls of said first and second cases, respectively, are angled inwardly from an upper surface thereof to said floor structure to provide for the relative nesting position. 
     
     
       55. The system of claim 54 wherein angling of said side and end walls of both said cases allows for two-to-one nesting of said first and second cases. 
     
     
       56. The system of claim 51 wherein each of said side and end walls of said first and second cases comprises a solid surface from top to bottom and end to end. 
     
     
       57. The system of claim 51 wherein said floor structures of said first and second cases both have open gridwork constructions. 
     
     
       58. The system of claim 51 wherein said sloping floor structure, said pair of end walls, and said pair of side walls of said first and second cases, respectively, are integrally formed together of plastic. 
     
     
       59. The system of claim 41 wherein said first and second syrup bags are separable and removable from their respective said cases, and said spigots are extendable through their respective said end wall apertures and to the exterior of their respective said cases with said syrup bags in said cases. 
     
     
       60. The system of claim 41 wherein each said floor structure includes a front portion adjacent said end wall including said aperture, a rear portion, and two side portions, said front portion being generally flat, said rear portion defining a generally trapezoidal area funneling down towards said front portion, and said side portions sloping downwards from said adjacent side walls to said front and rear portions. 
     
     
       61. The system of claim 41 wherein each said aperture in said end wall includes a generally rectangular opening and an upwardly-disposed semi-circular opening communicating with a lower portion of said rectangular opening. 
     
     
       62. The system of claim 41 wherein said pair of end walls of each said case include a handle formed therein to facilitate lifting and carrying of each said case. 
     
     
       63. The system of claim 41 wherein upper surfaces of said pair of end walls and said pair of side walls of each said case define a top rim thereof. 
     
     
       64. The system of claim 63 wherein a front edge of each said top rim slopes outwardly and downwardly to facilitate the unstacking of said cases. 
     
     
       65. The system of claim 41 wherein said syrup comprises fountain service beverage syrup.